Homeschool High School Blog Hop!

Do you have a highschooler?
Do you need some inspiration?
Do you need some encouragement?

Check out this High School Blog Hop!

Lil Momma Strouse

50 Followers Give Away!

The winner is....



*AubreyLaine*

You are the 3rd comment so you have WON! 

Please respond to my email with your address.

This give away has been extended to Feb 12th, due to low entry. 

Come on people share and comment, SIGN UP!!!!

Yesterday I hit 50 followers! I am so excited. I want to have a give away to help celebrate!

I am giving away a homemade set of tunisian crochet wash clothes hand made by me!

Along with a $10.00 Gift Card to Michaels.

Sharing how you heard about me.

Follow the blog.

Blog about this give away.

Share about this blog on facebook.

Share about this blog on twitter -#lilmommastrouse

Leave a separate comment for EACH entry.

Thanks again for helping me grow my blog. 

This give away will end Sunday Feb 5th at noon. 

Extended to Feb 12th at noon due to low entry. 

*You might now receive the same color tunisian crochet wash cloth as shown in picture above.*

Lil Momma Strouse

Starting a Blog

Someone asked me the other day what it was like to start a blog?

When I responded with what do you mean? Her questions got more detailed, like...

1. Why did you start a blog?
2. What do you write about?
3. Where did you think of your title?
4. Who do you write to?
5. Why do you not use real names?

Her list of questions just kept going.  Here are some of my answers to what she asked...

1. Originally I started my blog to keep a record of what my kids did as they grew and so family might be able to see from a far.  Now I keep my blog more as a hobby. A way to share my thoughts.
2. I write about anything and everything that pertains to my life. Homeschool, Kids, God, Friends, Work, Life and anything else that works for me.
3. My original title was Strouse Academy when it was just about schooling. But as have grown and my blogging has grown I wanted my blog so show how we are growing. Thus Five in Training for HIM came about.
4. I write to ME! If others read, like and comment on it, GREAT! But the main reason is for me like an open diary.
5. The reason we do not use real names came about when I first started blogging. My son was small and that was a request of my husbands. Do not use the kids real names. So we have not. 

I shared with my friend that I took a free blog writing course a while ago and that did help.  I need finish up the other blog writing course I started.  Maybe that would help improve my blog and get some more followers???

So if you are looking to start a blog or just starting take it slow and enjoy the journey! If you have blogged a while and read this blog please leave a comment sharing your tips for a new blogger. 

Commenting on Blogs Challenge!

I love to read new blogs. Not just read them but comment on them too.  As a blogger I know how important it is to hear the feedback.  Even if it is just as simple "great blog".  I love to read comments, wish more people would leave comments. But more importantly I love to leave comments on others blogs.


Here is my challenge to all the blog readers out there.

If you are surfing blogs or even reading them in your google reader. I challenge you

STOP 

and 

COMMENT

I challenge you to do this on at least 2 to 4 blogs every time you are reading blogs.

Even share those blogs that you made a comment on with YOUR own blog readers, by writing a blog about the great blogs you have come across.


So who is up for the challenge? Leave a comment and let me know you have accepted the challenge!

Great Blog - Just had to share

I was just scanning my google reader and read this blog post over at

How to Avoid Taking Your Stress Out on Your Children

Ya'll really need to go over and check out this blog! It is full of some great ideas!!!!

BlogWritingCourse.com - Giveaway

Look at this great online blogging course. I am taking right now and was given the opportunity to give away a copy too.  How cool is that?!  I can't wait to see how much it will help me w/ my blogging.  This class is good for teens to adults.  As a homeschool Mom what a great find to have as part of school.  So if you have never thought about blogging, you are new to blogging or you are a veteran blogger this is still sounds like great class for everyone.  Here is some information about this class.

Blogging 101 is a fully automated 8-week online course that covers everything you need to know to plan, start, write, and build an audience for a brand new blog. The eight units of Blogging 101 (which can be completed in less than eight weeks, if you choose) include:

• Introduction to Blogging (all the basics for the beginning blogger)
• Laying Your Cards On The Table (blog titles, platforms, and start-up instructions)
• It’s All About Me (blogging safety, “About Me” pages, and blog design)
• Build That Content and Make It Snazzy (writing quality posts, commenting, and adding media)
• It’s The Little Things That Count (sidebars, widgets, categories, and static pages)
• Mi Blog es Su Blog – - Building Community (growing a readership, blog promotion, and blogrolls)
• Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained (more blog promotion strategies and monetizing your blog)
• Looking Back and Looking Forward (tips and strategies for continuing to grow your blog after the course)

For only $25, you receive access to the Blogging 101 course for eight full weeks as well as downloadable links and resources for you to keep as long as you want. This is an incredible bargain, and you won't find any other comparable course on the web at such an affordable price.


*Giveaway runs through February 28th until 5pm (EST), a random winner will be picked using Random.org and will be notified by email. You can get an extra chance to win by linking to this post on your Twitter or Facebook account. Just come on back and put the link into the comments below. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Retail value $25.